Jane MacDonald was born in Texas of tough, sophisticated, opinionated European immigrant parents in 1964, but now lives in a Boston suburb. She is a professional career counselor, now working part time at a university and spending the rest of her days taking care of two frying-size children and a husband and engaging in various church and civic activities.

She spent most of her high school and college years trying to read as many good books as possible and at the same time to become the world's foremost female jock. She succeeded in the first but not in the second, though she had a glorious time trying. Despite mediocre grades she managed to get a B.A. in English Lit with a minor in French, and along the way an unusual history professor forced her to learn how to write. She then went on to get an M.Ed. in counselling. Injuries ended her athletic career a few years ago, and she began writing fiction at the age of 33.